[16], 205, [3] p., ill. ; 20 cm. (4to in 8s) André João Antonil is the pseudonym of João Antonio Andreoni, an Italian Jesuit priest born in Tuscany, who was attracted to Brazil in 1681 by Father Antonio Vieira

This first and rare edition of Antonil's book was seized and destroyed by the Portuguese government for the information it revealed about Brazil's lucrative sugar industry and gold mines. To publish news about the riches of that colony would arouse envy and lead to aggression by other nations. It's an important book on eighteenth century Brazil's economic and social history

Title vignette

Signed on p. [11], 1st count: O Anonymo Toscano

Signatures: * A-N (*1, *2, *8, G5, H8, M3, N7 versos blank; N8 blank) (C2 missigned C3)

JCB Rare Americana

Moraes, R.B. de. Bib. Brasiliana (1983 ed.)

Sacramento Blake. Dic. bib. brazileiro

Rodrigues, J.C. Bib. Brasiliense

Sabin

Alden, J.E. European Americana

Silva, I.F. da. Dic. bib. portuguez

Leite, S. Hist. da Companhia de Jesus no Brasil

Backer-Sommervogel

John Carter Brown Library copy has an early manuscript note on half title about the rarity of the book: Libro divenuto rariss°. a ragione che il Rè D. Giovanni V mandò raccogliere tutti gli Esemplari, che fù possible per timore di dar gusto ai Straniere dell' opulencia del Brasile

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